Game Freak director Junichi Masuda shared a special message with attendees at the Japan Expo held in Paris this week, which has now been shared by Nintendo online.

Within Masuda shares how thrilled he is that Pokémon X and Y are seeing a worldwide release, whilst discussing how the Kalos region is inspired by France.

Kalos comes from the ancient Greek word meaning beauty, Masuda having taken initial inspiration from a trip across the country after Pokémon Black and White released – journeying around Paris, Avignon, Arles, Marseille, Nice, Èze, Mont Saint-Michael, Versailles Palace, the chateaux of the Loire Valley.

He returned in 2011, travelling with staff members on a research tour, visiting many cities and requesting they visit the Carnac stones, where they quizzed their guide instensively.

They had members of Nintendo’s French localisation team with them on the trip, who kept asking “Are you Mr. Masuda of Game Freak?” The result of which making him very nervous that it would leak that France was to be the inspiration for the next Pokémon titles.

The special message shares the first footage of the newly announced Honedge (Hitotsuki in the Japanese version), which you can see below.

Pokémon X and Pokémon Y will release exclusively for Nintendo 3DS worldwide on October 12th.

Alex Seedhouse+ Alex's early adoration for Nintendo began with a Yellow Game Boy and a copy of Donkey Kong Land. This developed over the years, later peaking when he hid in his room to play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time one Christmas.
Nowadays, his enthusiasm is shared through Nintendo Insider, a place in which he can document his thoughts regarding the big N.